News from the Front Corn Earworm's

Fall Parasite Management

Molting Layers

Goat and Cows

Thorvin for Animals

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September/October 2021

Our MissionYour trusted partner; creating

superior products for healthier soil, plants and animals. Healing the

earth and feeding the world - Better Naturally!

The Fertrell office and plant will be closed on September 6th in

observance of Labor Day

Fertrell Soil Mineralizer Plus is a simple and effective blend that increases biological activity in the soil, winterizes perennial crops, and sets your table for success in the coming growing season.

Contact a local Fertrell Representative through our online locator at www.fertrell.com or Fertrell’s main office at 800-347-1566

SOIL MINERALIZER PLUSGET A JUMP START ON NEXT YEAR!

*Available in 50 lb. paper bags, 1000 lb. and 2000 lb. totes, as well as loose bulk.

• Aids in crop residue digestion• Helps prolong duration of nutrient release• Prepares perennial crops for dormant season

10% off for orders placed during October

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News From The Front:

Upcoming EventsTo protect the health of our staff members. We are still limiting our participation at in-person events. Check out our social media for updates. Or you may call our office at 717-367-1566 or 800-347-1566.

September 16th - 17th 2021 The Stockman Grass Farmer Gathering at Polyface Farm, 43 Pure Meadows Ln., Swoope, VA 24479 Limited tickets available. Link for tickets and information: www.stockmangrassfarmer.com

New ProductsPhos Agri 0-14-0 - is the highest grade organ-ic approved Rock Phosphate source in North America available in 50 lb. and 2000 lb. totes

Fertrell Fly Aside Liquid

We have a new fly spray to offer our customers! We’re calling it Fly Aside Liquid, and it’s avail-able in quarts and gallons. Fly Aside Liquid has been trialed in Florida with positive results!

How to use it?Mix 8 oz of Fly Aside Liquid with 120 oz of warm water to make 1 gallon of fly spray. Apply liberally as needed. A quart will make 4 gallons of fly spray and a gallon will make 16 gallons of fly spray. What’s in it? Mineral oil, Pyganic, Garlic Barrier, and organic essential oils. Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Garlic Juice, Chry-santhemum Extract, Citronella Essential Oil, Lemongrass Essential Oil, Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate Organic Certifiers:It has been approved for external use by PCO and OEFFA. We are still waiting to hear back from GOA, NOFA-NY and MOSA

Discontinued ProductsDue to lack of sales and in order to be more ef-ficient in production with focus on our products in high demand, we have discontinued the fol-lowing products:

Fertrell Catch It (Former Kelp conditioner)Fertrell Buffer Blend

Inventory Change

Fertrell Blue K Plus 2-2-4 - discontinued as a stock item, but will be available as custom (1 ton minimum)

Inventory DelayCalphos - is only available with very long lead times.

MarketplaceCertified Organic Cows & Springing Heifers for sale. 29 cows and 10 bred heifers. Timothy & Joan Hoover, 24 Boardman Rd., Rome, Pa 18837 Phone – 570-247-2751

Testimonial from the field Nature Avenger AG 2.5 gal The stuff works! I did a 1:3 mixture with water and added 2 oz. NuFilm with it and sprayed fencerows here. Burned the leaves right off of Poison Ivy, Raspberry, Wild Cherry saplings and more. That was a strong solution as rec-ommended on the label for hard to kill weeds.

Phone: 800-347-1566 | Fax: 717-367-9319 info@fertrell.com | www.fertrell.com

Contact your local Fertrell dealer or the office today

Fertrell Early Order Fertrell Early Order Fertilizer DiscountsFertilizer Discounts

September 8% Off September 8% Off October 7% Off October 7% Off November 6% Off November 6% Off December 5% OffDecember 5% Off

Applicable Blends: Applicable Blends: Blue N 5-1-1 Blue N 5-1-1

Gold SS 2-4-2Gold SS 2-4-2Super N 4-2-4Super N 4-2-4Super K 3-4-7Super K 3-4-7

Custom BlendsCustom BlendsOrders must be placed

and paid for by the last business day of the month. No other

discounts apply. Discount applies before shipping. Orders must

be delivered/picked up by March 12, 2022.

Restrictions may apply.

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Corn Earworm'sby Sage DennisOne of the largest threats to any corn crop that is nearly ready to harvest is Corn Earworm. They are an end-of-season pest that usually appears in large numbers, directly consumes the market product, and can only be treated during specific increments throughout the growing season. This pest also has a wide range of very common hosts to see in a market garden, such as; tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and beans. Due to its willingness to eat a large variety of crops, very few of us have not had to deal with this pest.

The more south you are, the larger this issue will be because generally, some amount of winter kill can happen if you live in Pennsylvania. Parts of Canada and New England will see only one generation of Corn Earworm, which migrated there that season. While in the warmer states, you can see up to 4 generations a year as it can overwinter in your soils. Corn Earworm is very dispersive, so do not be surprised if one year you have no issues and then next you are starting to notice considerable pressure.

The most damaging stage is the larval stage. Corn Earworm will feed on silking corn and can burrow into the ear or fruit if it is being hosted by another plant such as tomatoes. This can interfere with pollination, bring in diseases, and make your fruit unmarketable. The larva can vary in color, but the head is usually orange or light brown with a white netting pattern, and the body is brown, green, pink, yellow, or mostly black with small spines, which give it a rough feel to the touch. Afterward, the worm will drop to the ground and pupate for about two weeks, then hatch as an adult moth looking to lay eggs. The adults also vary in color but are most commonly yellowish-brown and have a small dark spot on their bodies. The adults are primarily nocturnal as they like to hide in vegetation during the day, but they can occasionally be seen feeding on some nectar early in the morning.

Controlling Corn Earworms can be a bit tricky.

Before we dive straight into what chemical con-trols there are, let’s talk about some less drastic measures. Moths can be monitored with black-light and pheromone traps. This will not control the entire population but is an effective way to scout to see just how bad your infestation is. If you have at least five Corn Earworm moths, you should begin an IPM Program. Trap crops can be difficult, especially for farmers in warmer regions, because it is hard to keep a trap crop more desirable over the entire window that the moth is out. For more northern growers, this can be a reasonably effective way to help control this pest since it does have preferred crops that it predates on, such as Lima Beans. If possible, early harvest can help avoid the window for lat-er season generations. Lastly would be tillage. Tillage in the fall of the year can dramatically reduce the overwintering success of the pupae in warmer climates.

In terms of controls, the Corn Earworm is not very durable during the larval and moth stages of its life. The most popular biological is Bacil-lus thuringiensis, and some areas of the Midwest have documented a resistance is starting to de-velop. Outside of this, mineral oil and other biologicals or a chemical knockdown such as Pyganic can all be quite effective. What it comes down to is proper timing. A preventive program against corn earworms may begin when 10% of the ears are silked. Repeated sprays at three-to-five-day intervals until 90% of the silks have wilted should give a high percentage of worm-free ears during early and mid season. Control is more difficult late in the season. Even shorten-ing spray intervals may produce only 90% clean ears.  Spray solution should be driven deep into the silks to be of maximum benefit. The center third of the plant is the only zone that needs to be protected. The Corn earworm is a difficult insect to manage, but I hope this information will be helpful to you in creating a more effective plan. Next time though, when you run into an issue like Corn Earworm, reach out to us, and we will work with you to help create a plan for this growing season and the next!

NOW IS THE TIME TO NOW IS THE TIME TO SOIL TEST SOIL TEST

AND PROPERLY PLAN AND PROPERLY PLAN FOR 2022!FOR 2022!

Fertrell will work with your soil test to help

determine deficiencies.Balanced soils will

produce better yields and healthier crops for

your farm.

Contact your local Fertrell Rep. or Fertrell's

main office to get further information on soil

testing. 800-347-1566 www.fertrell.com

Special - 50% OFF our standard soil test during September, on samples

received by Waypoint lab in Leola PA by 9/30/2021.

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Fall Parasite Management by Doc Tom Roskos Internal parasites can influence the health, productivity, and vitality of cattle, sheep, and goats. Their affects are most significantly seen in younger animals, as there is a level of immunity that gets acquired with age. Managing parasites is not only about choosing a good dewormer, but also about formulating a complete program for control.

The parasites we are focusing on are primarily the stomach and intestinal worms. The most common and harmful of these include Ostertagia, Cooperia, Haemonchus, and Trichostrongylus. Practices established to control these also will address the other internal parasites.

These parasites have evolved to maximize their reproductive efficiency. This evolution is somewhat dependent on climate. Parasites from the northern part of the US will act differently than those from the southern US. In our northern regions, the parasites will go into a phase known as hypobiosis, which is a reduction in larval maturation and egg production until spring. Commonly, this coincides with the end of the grazing season and freezing temperatures.

In making decisions on pasture rotations, it is important to remember that cold winter weather does not destroy worm larvae. At temperatures below 50°, worm eggs do not hatch but existing larvae are still infective. This means that grazing stockpiled pasture in winter can lead to new infestations if the pasture was grazed during the summer months. Also, it is good to have a “clean” paddock for first turn-out in the spring. An ideal situation would be an area seeded in late summer with rye or winter wheat.

Control measure for the animals relies on 3 things:1. Good nutrition2. Eliminating adult parasites3. Maintaining excellent gut integrity

Good Nutrition – As with all health challenges, an animal that is on a high plane of nutrition will be better able to stay healthy and productive. Diets with proper levels of protein and energy are most important. Vitamins A, D, and E are essential, especially when using stored feeds. Readily absorbable trace minerals benefit the immune system. Sources of these include Redmond salt, kelp, and humates. Adequate and clean water is also vital. Also keep in mind that nutritional requirements are higher if the animals are run down from previous parasites loads or health challenges. Eliminating Adult Parasites – I will focus on the natural/organic products that I use in my practice and on my animals. This would be my fall protocols:

1. Dr. Paul’s Clean Start Pellets When animals are coming off pasture for all sheep, goats, and calves, I give a feeding of this palatable pellet at a level of 8 oz per 300 lbs body weight. I mix with some feed, so all animals get their amount. I have been doing this once per month to animals less than 1 year of age and have had excellent results. In situations where I suspect coccidiosis as well as internal parasites, I will do 5 consecutive days with clean start at 8 oz per 300 lbs body weight. If using a self-feeder or creep feeder, it can be included at a level of 2 oz per 300 lbs body weight for 2 weeks. The maximum I give to adult animals is 2 lbs of Clean Start.

2. Dr. Paul’s CGS RemedyThis is a ground botanical product that is easily mixed in with feed. I use this product when I want to give it to a large group of cattle. Sheep and goats may want to sort it out from the feed, but adult animals will get it consumed. I give ¾ cup per 500 lbs of body weight and will repeat in 3 weeks if necessary.

3. Dr. Paul’s S&G PillsIf I have sheep or goats coming off pasture that are thin, have a rough hair coat, and inconsistent manure, I use the S & G Pills. While this product requires catching and giving boluses to individual animals, it is a way to make sure each animal gets their portion. I go back and give Clean Start Pellets in 2-3 weeks.

Maintaining Gut Integrity – It is very important to have a healthy gut lining to maximize the immune system and reduce the ability for parasite larvae to attach to the gut. Many basic components go into this:1. Adequate water for good hydration2. Non-acidic diet and good balance of grain/

forage if feeding grain.3. Fiber - which acts as a prebiotic. Oats are

excellent in feeds as well as fiber in forages. 4. Control of mycotoxins - Consider Dr. Paul’s

Ration Boost if mycotoxins are suspected.5. Humates – Reed Sedge Peat6. Hydrolysable Tannins – Clean Start Pellets7. Available Trace Minerals – Redmond salt,

kelp

In summary, what I like to see for fall parasite management is the judicious use of products to diminish parasite load going into the winter and using Clean Start Pellets as part of a program to maximize gut health. Good balanced nutrition sets the stage for health and productivity. By managing parasite loads in the fall, the stage is set for fewer problems in the spring. Using natural products diminishes the build-up of parasite resistance. I strongly advise that you talk with a veterinarian or your animal health provider about your particular operation in setting up a program for year-long parasite management.

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Molting LayersBy Jeff MattocksMolting is a natural occurrence. All hens have a timer in their head that tells them when they should take a break, quit laying and change their feathers. For most hens, the timing for a molt comes in the fall when the lights are declining. This is natural. To start laying in the spring is also a natural instinct for all poultry. Therefore, hens that start laying in the fall and winter may get confused about when to molt. Some hens start laying automatically when they reach a certain age. Some hens start laying when the daylight is increasing. Some hens start laying when we stimulate them with artificial light. All is normal and acceptable. The hens that start based on age or artificial light stimulation out-side of the normal springtime stimulation are more susceptible to molting out of instinctual declining light in the fall. Triggers that can initiate molt could be lack of water access, feed quality or access issues, heat stress, predator at-tacks, sudden environmental changes, and any other significant stressors.

I would like to make a suggestion that you plan the molt for your flock. This would be manag-ing lights, feed and housing to help your birds through their natural molt. I would suggest try-ing to manage your flocks molt to occur starting near October 23rd each year. Why October 23rd? It is 60 days from the winter solstice of December 22nd. This is when the days start getting longer. Ah, did the light come on? This schedule will take advantage of naturally occurring increasing daylight. Easier on your flock and you!

Keys to managing the molt that you should consider are:1. Managing the lights. Remove all artificial

lighting. Perhaps consider keeping the flock in a light tight housing where you can re-duce the lights down to about 6 hours for a few days. Or manage the lights at a low enough level to not stimulate the birds lay-ing instinct.

2. Managing feed. Change the feed to a high

fiber, high calcium and low energy feed. Shooting for 12% protein with an energy around 1000Kcal per pound. This could be easily accomplished with a whole oat diet. Be sure to provide plenty of grit so the birds can digest the whole oats. While feeding the whole oats you should also feed plenty of free choice oyster shell or calcium chips. Oyster shell or Calcium chips are NOT a replacement for grit. Grit is granite and much harder than calcium sources. You should plan to feed 3-4 oz of whole oats per bird per day. To do this you need enough feeder space for ALL of the birds to eat at the same time. They will all be hungry at the same time and it’s only fair they all can eat equally. Please do not free choice the oats that they can eat all they want.

3. Managing body weight. Weigh your birds prior to starting the molt. Compare starting weight with your target pullet weight ex-pectations. The biggest purpose of chicken molting is to reduce body weight down to near pullet weight. The other reason for managing the molt is to reduce the layers ovary size. This will help reset the ovaries to lay plenty of eggs in the next cycle. Re-ducing the ovary size will also get the egg size back down to medium, large and extra-large. Which are the target sizes for eggs for good hatching. These sizes are also the most desired size for eating eggs.

Molting doesn’t have to be cruel and inhumane. You can help your birds through this natural instinctual change of life. If you think about this from a natural standpoint. In the fall food becomes scarcer. The birds in nature will bulk up and store fat for the long winter ahead. Then during the winter, they would lose body weight naturally due to the lack of available food. Then in the spring when the bugs and food start emerg-ing, they start eating and start laying eggs. It’s all natural! You can help them be more successful.

OCTOBER SPECIALOCTOBER SPECIAL

• Profitability• Profitability• Animal Health• Animal Health

• Understanding Performance• Understanding Performance

Fertrell Animal Nutrition team offers custom feed

formulations for all types of farm livestock and poultry.

Call today for the best utilization of your grains and

forages.

Discounts apply during the month of October.

FREE FORAGE TESTINGAND

50% OFF GRAIN TESTS

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Goat and CowsBy Alyssa WalshGoat milk seems to be getting more popular. Some believe that goat milk is the better option because it is naturally A2A2, less risk of milk allergies, and high in digestible protein. When comparing goats and cows, there are some simi-larities and even more differences.

While goats and cows have similar digestive sys-tems, they are very different animals. A goat’s rumen ferments and digests feed more efficiently, which means a goat will eat more feed per pound of body weight. A goat will eat 5% of her body weight while a cow will eat closer to 3% of her body weight. This breaks down to a 165 lb. goat eating 8.25 lbs. of feed. Many have heard that goats are browsers, which makes them good at finding the nutritious parts of plants in a less nutritious plant – think weeds and shrubs. This doesn’t mean that goats should only be thrown into weedy pastures and left to their own devices. To help with growth and lactation, goats need a good variety of forages in their diet! If you’re going to supplement forages with grains, feeding whole grains or cracked grains will encourage chewing, saliva production, and both benefit the rumen! Feeding grain can help meet energy and protein requirements for growth or lactation when forages fall short. Like cows, you don’t want to exceed 40% of their diet in grains, which will help maintain rumen health. And don’t feed more than 1.5 lbs. of grain per feeding. Offering a good variety of forages and supplementing with grain as needed will help meet nutrient require-ments for growth and lactation while maintain-ing a healthy rumen.

Another big difference between cows and goats is Milk Urea Nitrogen (MUN) levels. MUNs give an indicator of the amount of protein in the diet and how well the protein is being digested. MUNs higher than suggested ranges indicate ex-cess protein or protein not being utilized. MUNs lower than suggested ranges indicate not enough protein in the diet. When first starting to work with dairy goats, “forget what you know about

MUNs with cattle.” Goats and Sheep maintain a much higher blood urea nitrogen, meaning their MUNs will be higher. For cows, we’re looking for MUNs between 8-12. For sheep and goats, MUNs will be closer to 20.

Copper tends to be a hot topic in goat nutri-tion. In all animals (and humans), copper is an essential nutrient that helps iron form red blood cells in the body, helps hair pigmentation, and supports normal immune function. Providing a free choice mineral with at least 1,000 ppm of copper will help meet the goat’s copper require-ments. While goats have a higher copper require-ment compared to some animals, it can also be overfed. This can lead to a toxicity. In fact, I have worked with a goat herd that experienced copper toxicity in a number of goat kids. Copper toxicity is caused by either overfeeding copper or an imbalance in copper and molybdenum. There should be at least 4 times as much molybdenum than copper in the diet, but sometimes this is hard to identify. However, goats will generally meet their molybdenum requirements from for-ages. Like most things in life, copper needs to be fed in moderation.

Lastly, like cows, a trace mineral salt and kelp meal are important to offer in a mineral program. A goat’s salt requirements are going to change depending on temperature, stage of lactation or gestation, and age. Offering a trace mineral salt like Redmond Salt will also provide essential

trace minerals beneficial for immune function. During the fly season, Redmond’s salt with add-ed garlic can help with external parasites. There’s even been a study suggesting added garlic reduce ticks as well as flies. Goats will consume ¼ to ½ oz of salt daily. Kelp meals is another important free choice mineral. As a natural source of iodine to help support thyroid function. The thyroid makes hormones that regulate several functions in the body such as heart, muscle, and digestive functions. Goats will consume ¼ to ½ oz of kelp meal per day as well.

While goats and cows share similarities like be-ing ruminants and the importance of maintain-ing rumen health, there are many differences between the two animals. Goats eat more feed per pound of body weight, digest and utilize pro-teins differently, and forage for feed differently. Goats and cows are similar yet very different.

Fertrell will again partner with Blue River to bring you discounted seed

starting in September.

Watch for more information coming

soon!

AlfalfaCorn

Soybeans

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Thorvin for Animals by Lisa CampbellThorvin is nature's most complete source of bioavailable minerals, vitamins, and beneficial phytonutrients. Harvested from the cleanest kelp beds on Earth and geothermally dried, it’s literally the “World’s Finest Nutrients.” What does that mean for you and your animals? Kelp, specifically Ascophyllum nodosum (Asco), the species in Thorvin, provides a range of benefits when used as a feed supplement to livestock. Feeding your livestock kelp means you are committed to their optimal health.

Fall is approaching fast and with forage beginning to be prepared for over-wintering, add kelp to your livestock’s diet to help keep up nutrient levels. Thorvin for Animals is a concentrated source of more than 60 minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and beneficial phytonutrients, including polysaccharides which have prebiotic properties. The trace minerals in Thorvin are essential for proper immune and thyroid function. With exceptional nutrient density and low moisture content, you get more and need less, making this a cost-effective feed supplement for livestock. Even small quantities deliver excellent value. Make Thorvin part of your wellness program.

Typically, around this time of year, cows are in their second to third trimesters. Feeding kelp to your cows while they are pregnant can aid in utero calf development, leading to easier birthing and healthier calves. Continue supplementing your cow’s feed with kelp to help build base mineral and vitamin stores pre-weaning to support calves’ health.

Leaves will be falling and cold winds blowing soon. Give your animals the boost they need to welcome 2022 with utmost health and productivity. Feed Thorvin!

Horse Power

Need a supplement to make a complete feed?

Adding Fertrell’s Horse Power will give your horse the vitamins,

minerals, and probiotics to work as hard as you do!

CALL FOR A COPY OF CATALOG: 800-347-1566 | WWW.FERTRELL.COM

PRODUCER OF NATURAL & ORGANIC FEED SUPPLEMENTS & FERTILIZERS

*10% off during September*Restrictions Apply

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE PAIDLEBANON,PAPERMIT NO. 146

75 YEARS!

Dr.Paul’s Quarterly SpecialsDr.Paul’s Quarterly Specials

Downer BolusAragonite, Calcium sulfate, Magnesium sulfate, Potassium sulfate, Potassium chloride, Calcium carbonate and Monosodium phosphate.Available in a 25 count container.

Eliminate BolusGinger Root, Diatomaceous Earth, Neem Bark, Garlic, Yucca Root.Available in a 25 count container.

SwineXDE, Neem Bark, Ginger Root, and Garlic.Available in 60 oz, 5 qt, and 3 gallon jars.

10% Off October - December, 202110% Off October - December, 2021

Poke Oil - Olive Oil, Phyto Lacca and Camphor. Available in 8 oz and 32 oz bottles.

S&G Pills - Neem Tree, Ginger Root, Garlic Bulb, Sodium Bicarbonate. Available in 20, 60, and 150 capsule packs.

Super Wound Spray - Organic Grain Alcohol, Aloe Vera, Garlic, Comfrey, Calendula, Eyebright Available in 16 oz and 64 oz bottles.

10% Off through September, 202110% Off through September, 2021